Saturday 28 December 2013

Durga Suktam

Meaning:

Jātavedase sunavāma soma marātīyato nidahāti vedaḥ .
Sa naḥ parṣadati durgāṇi viśvā nāveva sindhuṃ duritātyagniḥ ..1..

We offer oblations of Soma unto Agni. May he burn those who are against us. May that Agni lead us beyond all difficulties, like a boatman takes his boat across a river. 

Tāmagnivarṇāṃ tapasā jvalantīṃ vairocanīṃ karmaphaleṣu juṣṭām .
Durgāṃ devīm̐̐ śaraṇamahaṃ prapadye sutarasi tarase namaḥ ..2..

I take refuge in that Goddess, who has the lusture of fire, who is radiant due to her penance, who gives the fruits of all actions, and who is difficult to obtain. O Durga, we bow to you who are skilled in making us cross all difficulties.

Agne tvaṃ pārayā navyo asmān svastibhirati durgāṇi viśvā .
Pūśca pṛthvī bahulā na urvī bhavā tokāya tanayāya śaṃyoḥ ..3..

Oh Agni! You are worthy of all praise. Lead us safely beyond all difficulties. May our land and our earth be abundant. Bless our children and their children with happiness.

Viśvāni no durgahā jātavedaḥ sindhunna nāvā duritātiparṣi .
Agne atrivanmanasā gṛṇāno'smākaṃ bodhyavitā tanūnām ..4..

O Destroyer of all difficulties! Rescue us from difficulties, just as one crosses a river by means of a boat. O Agni! Protect our bodies vigilantly like Atri (who is concerned with the welfare of all beings).

Pṛtanā jitam̐̐ sahamānamugramagnim̐̐ huvema paramāthsadhasthāt .
Sa naḥ parṣadati durgāṇi viśvā kṣāmaddevo atiduritātyagniḥ ..5..

We invoke Agni from the highest assembly , who charges and vanquishes his enemies and is fearsome. May that Agni protect us and lead us beyond all that is transient, all difficulties, and all sins. 

Pratnoṣi kamīḍyo adhvareṣu sanācca hotā navyaśca sathsi .
Svāñcāgne tanuvaṃ piprayasvāsmabhyaṃ ca saubhagamāyajasva ..6..

O Agni! You who are adored in sacrifices multiply our joy. You are present in the sacrifices and are always laudable. Grant us happiness thinking of us as your own body. Bring us good fortune from all corners.

Gobhirjuṣṭamayujo niṣiktaṃ tavendra viṣṇoranusañcarema .
Nākasya pṛṣṭhamabhi saṃvasāno vaiṣṇavīṃ loka iha mādayantām ..7..

O all-pervading Indra who is unattached ! We shall follow you blessed with cattle and happiness. May those who live in the upper reach of the heavens bless me with the world of Vishnu in this life.

Oṃ kātyāyanāya vidmahe kanyakumāri dhīmahi .
tanno durgiḥ pracodayāt ..8..

We perceive the daughter of Katyayana; we meditate on that young virgin.
May that Durga inspire us (to reach that goal).

Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ..
Om peace peace peace.


This hymn is found in the Taittiriya Aranyakam. ie. Prapathaka 2 of Chapter 10.The Gayatri at the end of the hymn is found in Prapathaka 1.7 of the same. 

Notes:

The Chapter 10 of the Taittiriya Aranyakam is also referred to as Mahanarayana Upanishad. The word "Durga" means difficulty. The hymn is addressed mostly to Agni, with verses 2 and 8 addressed to Goddess Durga and verse 7 addressed to Indra. Agni is requested to help us overcome all the obstacles that we face in our lives. Chanting of this hymn removes all difficulties in one's life.

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